Turn back O Man (Gustav Holst)

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•  Posted on 2026-03-22(Posted 2026-03-22)  CPDL #88716:   

Editor: Douglas Walczak (submitted 2026-03-22).   Score information: Letter, 7 pages, 105 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

• (Posted 2004-07-05)  CPDL #07525:        (Sibelius 2)

Editor: Stuart McIntosh (submitted 2004-07-05).   Score information: A4, 8 pages, 156 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: The score states that this edition should only be distributed in the USA. However, Holst's works are now out of copyright in the UK and possibly other European countries as well. Please refer to this page for more information.

General Information

Title: Turn Back O Man
Composer: Gustav Holst

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Sacred, Anthem

Language: English
Instruments: Organ

First published:
Description: 

External websites:

• Turn back O man sung by the Choir of Somerville College, Oxford (David Crown, conductor; Robert Pecksmith, organ)

Original text and translations

English text 1  Turn back O Man, forswear thy foolish ways. Old now is Earth, and none may count her days, Yet thou, her child, whose head is crowned with flame, Still wilt not hear thine inner God proclaim, "Turn back, O Man, forswear thy foolish ways." 2  Earth might be fair and all men glad and wise. Age after age their tragic empires rise, Built while they dream, and in that dreaming weep: Would man but wake from out his haunted sleep, Earth might be fair and all men glad and wise.

3  Earth shall be fair, and all her people one: Nor till that hour shall God's whole will be done. Now, even now, once more from earth to sky, Peals forth in joy man's old undaunted cry: "Earth shall be fair and all her folk be one!"